Recycling rates may drop because of MRF code

Recycling rates could suffer as a result of requirements for more accurate reporting of reject rates at materials recycling facilities (MRF), according to WasteDataFlow user group members.

However, group members said that any resulting drop in recycling rates resulting from regulations in the MRF code of practice should act to encourage local authorities and MRFs to take action to improve quality.

The MRF code of practice was launched for consultation on February 1, alongside a Quality Action Plan, in order to promote higher quality recycling and comply with the forthcoming EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) (see lets recycle.com story). The consultation ends on April 26 2013.

The code of practice requires MRFs over a certain size to measure the quality of their inputs and outputs with the results being made available to those supplying material to MRFs. However, the code stops short of setting minimum quality standards.

At a recent WasteDataFlow user group meeting on February 14 2013, members stated: The purpose of the MRF regulations and the Quality Action Plan is to promote high quality recycling as required by the Waste Framework Directive. Neither of them establish a standard/s for the quality of dry recyclates which has to be met to be counted as recycling. Reject rates should already be reported within WDF and these are deducted from recycling rates.

The MRF regulation will enable LAs to obtain more accurate and robust data on reject rates for reporting within WDF. It is true that recycling rates may drop as a result of more accurate reporting on reject rates; this should act to encourage LAs / MRFs to take action to improve quality.

Composting

At the meeting, user group members also raised concerns that the WFD could impact on the compost recycling rate in the UK, as many composting facilities in the UK are not PAS 100 accredited.

PAS 100 is the industry standard for composts, as certified by the British Standards Institution, and covers the composting process from the raw material stage to end product through quality control and lab testing.

Under the WFD, organics materials cannot be classed as recycled unless they meet end of waste protocols, as outlined by PAS 100. However, becoming a PAS 100 accredited facility can be costly, and a number of local authorities are in long-term contracts with non-PAS100 facilities.

As a number of composting facilities in the UK are not PAS 100 accredited, it is possible that a lot of material may not be classed as recycling under the future WFD, which could impact on the recycling rate.

Currently, local authorities are not asked to disclose how much of their material sent for composting meets the PAS 100 standard in their reporting, and user group members said there were no immediate plans to change WasteDataFlow guidance on this. However, group members said it was possible changes may be needed in future as a result of 2020 targets to increase household waste recycling to 50%.